CONFIDENTIAL
UKD 243/9 ико
157072
MDHIAN 8294
@
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 18
OF 12060OZ JANUARY 89
OM
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INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA, BANGKOK
VBP IN HONG KONG
TOP Q
1. THIS MORNING I MET LE THO THE NEW ACTING DIRECTOR OF CONSULAR DEPARTMENT, MFA TO DISCUSS THE MOU, FIRST RETURNS, INCREASED DEPARTURES ETC. MY IMPRESSION WAS THAT THO WAS STILL SOMEWHAT UNFAMILIAR WITH DETAILS AND LITTLE PROGRESS WAS MADE.
2. I RAISED THE INCREASED NUMBER OF ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG ALONG
THE LINES OF HONG KONG TELNO 48 AND HANDED OVER THE DATA IN HONG KONG TELNO 90. APART FROM SAYING THAT VIETNAM CONSIDERED IT IMPORTANT TO STOP CLANDESTINE DEPARTURES THO SAID LITTLE OF
SIGNIFICANCE.
3. ON MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE FIRST RETURNS, THO SAID THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS FURTHER AT A LATER STAGE. HOWEVER I KNOW FROM OTHER CONTACTS THAT THE VIETNAMESE SHOULD SEE NO DIFFICULTY WITH MANY TV CREWS COVERING THE EVENT AND INDEED THEY HAVE PLANS TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN PROGRAMME ON THE SUBJECT.
4. I HANDED OVER A FRESH DRAFT OF THE MOU BASED ON ALL YOUR MOST REPENT AMENDMENTS. THO, PLEADING OTHER ENGAGEMENTS SAID THAT HE DID NOT WISH TO DISCUSS IN DETAIL. HE WILL REVERT WITH
COMMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
5. THO DID SAY THAT THE VIETNAMESE ARE AMKING SOME PREPARATIONS FOR THE FIRST RETURNS IN PARALLEL WITH NEGOTIATING OUR MOU. I REQUESTED A LIST OF THOSE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST BATCH AND DETAILS OF THE OFFICIALS WHO WILL VISIT HONG KONG. THOS WILL SEE
WHAT HE CAN DO.
6. I BRIEFED THO ON THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT THE AIRCRAFT AND PLANS FOR
THE FIRST RETURNS. I REPEATEDLY STRESSED THAT TIME IS PRESSING AND THAT IF WE ARE TO MEET THE PRE TET DEADLINE THEN WE NEED A DEFINATE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE VIETNAMESE SIDE. THO CONFIRMED THAT THE MFA WANT TO MEET THE PRE TET DEADLINE BUT THAT THEY STILL HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS WITH THE MINISTRIES OF INTERIOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND ALSO WITH SOME DISTRICTS. FOR EXAMPLE UNHCR
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